East Brighton Councillor, Nancy Platts spent time litter picking in East Brighton Park with other volunteers on Friday morning:

It was a lovely still and sunny day, perfect for being outdoors and keeping the Park neat and tidy for local people to enjoy as lockdown lifts. After all, no-one wants to picnic amongst sweet wrappers, cigarette butts, bits of plastic, food cartons and other rubbish, do they?!

Waste can also be harmful to the wildlife and the environment. Tiny bits of plastic end up in the ecosystem because they get washed down storm drains and end up in the sea, being ingested by sea life. Birds and mammals can get caught up in larger bits of plastic, twine and netting.

The team worked their way around the café and the route of East Brighton parkrun which we hope to see return in June.  We also hope to welcome lots of visitors back to our City this summer. Many might stay at the camping and caravan site and pop over to the park, others might be walking through on their way across the Downs or to a football game at Whitehawk FC. Whatever the reason to be here, we want to showcase the Park as a beautiful place to visit and that means keeping it litter free.

Labour Councillors have written to Council officers asking for more bins or larger bins as those available are too small for the amount of rubbish generated. If there is no room in the bin, please take your rubbish away with you and dispose of it in a communal hopper bin on the way home.

Thank you to everyone who has been litter picking in East Brighton Park – we are building a great team and the Park is looking better and better.

If you want to join the Tidy Up Team, you can do so here Volunteer with the Tidy up Team (brighton-hove.gov.uk)

Councillor Nancy Platts
Labour Councillor for East Brighton